Drill-stem guide



April 21, 1931. G. A. MONTGOMERY DRILL STEM GUIDE Filed July 25, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ENTOR +qomer-y W & ATTORNEY Ap ril 21, 1931.

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 PATENT orr'iclrz GUSTAVUS A. MONTGOMERY, OFDALLAS, TEXAS DRILL-STEM GUIDE Application filed July 23,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in drill stemguides.

One object of the invention isto provide a drill stem guide in which theindividual wings or vanes do not completely encircle themandrel, thusproviding more direct and less obstructed vertical channels for theupward passage of fluids, mud and drillings.

An important object is to provide a drill stem, which, while forming aguide and giving an equalized bearing circumferentially of the hole,will not spiral or tend to rotate when reciprocated, thus avoiding apumping action. Advantages of such a structure are that the walls of thehole are not cut or grooved and the fluids and drilled detritus areconstantly kept in motionand induced to flow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drill stem with aplurality of sinuous wings or vanes constructed with broad hearingfaces, but otherwise reduced so as to eliminate surplus material andweight, thus making for lightness and more ready handling.

A still further object of the invention is to form the wings or vanes insinuous lengths less than a helix and to make them separately and thensecure them on the mandrel.

The advantages of such a structure are that the vanes are more easilycast or formed separately than if made integral with the mandrel; alsothe use of high-powered expensive presses is avoided, and worn-out 5vanes may be cut oil and replaced.

Another object of the invention istoprovide a drill stem formed of amandrel and individual sinuous wings or vanes separately securedthereto, whereby vanes of different lengths and various circumferentialspacings may be used.

A'construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features of the invention. The inventionwill be more readily understood from a reading of the followingspecification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which anexample of the invention is shown, and wherein: f

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of a well 1928. Serial No. 294,671.

showing in use a typical string of tools in cluding a drill stemconstructed in accord ance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a plain drill stem or mandrel to which vanesare applied in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of such a drill stem, l

, Fig. 4 is a view at right-angles to Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view showing the vanes in their relativepositions and spread into a horizontal plane,

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. 3 and 4 and showing other formsof the invention,

Figs. 8 and 9 are obverse and reverse elevations, respectively, of oneof the individual vanes,

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the ribs of Figs. 6 and7, g

Fig. 11 is an enlargedcross-section on the line 1111 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line1212 of Fig. 3,

Fig.13 is an enlarged horizontal crosssectional view taken on the line1313 of i Fig. 6, and

Fig. 14 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 14 -14 ofFig. 4.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates acable or suitable suspendingelement, to the lower end of which a rope socket 11 is attached. A setof jars 12 are connected to the lower end of the rope socket and a box'13 is carried on the lower end of the ars. A drill stem 14constructed inaccordance with the invention has a pin 15 at its upper end screwed intothe box 13 and a box 16 at its lower end receiving a bit 17. Thisillustrationis typical and, of course, permits of considerablevariation. Under some conditlons the ars may 7 be eliminated or they maybe connected between the drill stem and the bit. Also more than onedrill stem may be used in a string.

The invention resides, of course, in the structure of the drill stem andconsists primarily in a plurality of non-helical sinuous yanes 18extending longitudinally of a mandrel 20, but terminating short of theends fun thereof, and auxiliary vanes 19 mounted between the vanes 18 atthe ends thereof in some instances. While a vane may lie around themandrel one-half of the circumference of said mandrel, and will under noconditions completely surround the mandrel and it does not, therefore,become helical.

In Fi s. 1 to 5 inclusive, and Figs. 12 and 14 I have s own a form ofstem comprising two diametrically opposite sinuous vanes 18 andrelatively short auxiliary vanes 19 between the ends thereof. In formingthe stem I employ a smooth mandrel 20, as is shown in Fig. 2, andprovide the pin 15 on one end and the box 16 on the other end.

The box and in may be upset from the bod of the mand i'el or they may beseparately ma e and welded on the mandrel. It is obvious that it wouldbe less expensive to form the box and pin separately and secure them tothe mandrel than to upset or cast them separately from the mandrel. Theparticular structure and arrangement of the pin and box is not a part ofthe invention.

As is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the vanes 18 are formed separately. Theymay be cast of steel or rolled or otherwise formed. Each vane is given asinuous shape, as is best illustrated in the dia ammatical showing ofFig. 5. It is prefera 1e to form the vane with its convolutions equallyspaced on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis. As shown in Fig. 11,each vane has its inner edge formed on-a double bevel 21, which iscurved to fit the cylindrical surface of the mandrel.

In assembling the stem the vanes are held in position on the mandrel 20and welding material 22' is applied along each side of the bevel 21,whereby the vane is rigidl and substantially attached to the mandre Ihave shown each vane provided with an outlying head or rib 22 whichprovides an amplified bearing surface and whereby the vane exhibits aT-shape in cross-section, but it is obvious that the vanes may be givenother cross-sectional shapes.

The form which has been illustrated shows two diametrically oppositesinuous vanes 18 and it is obvious that these vanes will providethere-between sinuous channels extending longitudinally of the stem. Thevanes being non-helical, the channels will consequently be non-helicaland, therefore, the liquids and drilled detritus in passinglongitudinally of the stem will not be compelled to travel around themandrel but will take an undulating or sinuous path. The advantage ofthis is that the liquids and detritus will be kept constantly in motionand any tendency thereby to rotate the stem will be prevented.

Under some drilling conditions the short vanes 19 between the ends ofthe vanes 18 are very desirable in order to provide a cruciform bearingstructure, but if more elongated blades 18 were used the short blades 19would not be necessary.

A rather important feature is the forming of shoulders 23 at the ends ofthe vanes, either by upsetting or otherwise, and these shoulders notonly strengthen the vanes but sustain the shocks due to the end thrustsof the stem, as for instance where the vanes would strike the lower edgeof the casing. It is, of course, obvious that the auxiliary blades 19may be located at any desirable points.

In applying the vanes it is desirable to locate them on the core by ji sand to spotweld them in place. The we ding is preferably started fromthe middle or diametrically opposite guides and .an individual welderhan ing each guide. The welders should work toward the same end andremain as close in longitudinal parallel relation with each other aspossible, for the purpose of equalizing the contraction and expansionstresses. The weld is completed on one of the bevelled sides and thenthe weld on the opposite bevelled side is roduced. Of course, anyapproved or satis actory method may be employed.

In Figs. 6, '7, 10 and 13 I have shown another form in which threecontinuous vanes 18 are employed instead of two. This structureeliminates the necessity of the short vanes 19, as the vanes give asuflicient bearing surface around the mandrel without being helical.

There are many advantages resulting from a stem constructed inaccordance with this invention, The sinuous and non-helical vanesagitate the detritus in the most efficient manner and they ofier agreater guide surface with less weight than those guides now in commonuse. It has been found that the sinuous guides not encircling themandrel produce a stronger and stifier guide stem than guides using anequal number of helical vanes. The sinuous vanes are also more readilymolded or rolled than helical vanes and the entire structure can beroduced much cheaper. The provision w ereby a vane may be removed fromthe mandrel and a new vane substituted is very important.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well asmodifications and alterations, ma be made within the scone of the appened claims.

What I claim, is:

1. In a drill stem, a mandrel, and vertical- 1y disposed sinuous vanesextending radially and longitudinally of said mandrel, said vanes beingcontinuous and of relatively great pitch and great length.

2. In a drill stem, a mandrel, and vertically disposed sinuous vanesextendingradially its and longitudinally of said-"mandrel, said vanesforming continuous sinuouschannels therebetween extending substantiallyaxially of the mandrel for conducting the fluids and drilling detrituswithout rotating said stem.

3. A drill stem having continuous sinuous vertically disposed vanesextending longitu-dinally thereof and roviding continuous sinuouschannels there eteween.

4. A drill stem having vertically disposed sinuous vanes extendinglongitudinally thereof, each vane being T-shaped in crosssection andhaving an amplified outer heating surface.

5. A drill stem having continuous sinuous vertically disposed vanesextending longitudinally thereof and providing continuous sinuouschannels therebetween, and relatively short sinuous vanes disposed insaid channels.

6. In a drill stem, a mandrel, elongated sinuous vanes extendingradially and longitudinally on the mandrel and spaced from each other,and relatively short sinuous vanes extending radially and longitudinallyon the mandrel between the elongated vanes at each end thereof.

7. In a drill stem, a central mandrel, and individual vertically vanesseparately fastened on the mandrel, each vane having itsconvolutionsprojecting equal distances on opposite sides of a verticalplane extending through the ends of the vane.

8. As a sub-combination in a drill stem, a vertically extending sinuouselongated vane having a plurality of convolutions on each side of alongitudinal plane extending through the ends ofthe vane.

9. As a sub-combination in a drill stem, a vertically extending sinuouselongated vane exhibiting a T-shape in cross-section throughout itslength and also inclined longitudinally at its ends.

10. As a sub-combination in a drill stem, a vertically extending sinuouselongated vane having an amplified outer bearing surface and inclinedshoulders at each end.

11. Ina drill stem, an axial mandrel, and continuous vanes on themandrel spaced apart and each composed of regular curved portions inreverse order forming continuous passages axially of the mandrel.

12. A drill stem as set forth in claim 11 in which the curved portionsof each vane are struck on the same radius.

13. A drill stem as set forth in claim 11 in which the reverse curvesare equal.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GUSTAVUS A. MONTGOMERY.

extending sinuous

